Fat Wallets, Thin Market Send Farmland Values Sky-High

Farmland sales grabbed headlines and made good fodder for coffee shop talk in 2011. Sale prices of $10,000 to $14,000 to even $20,000/acre raised eyebrows and left some in shock.

Leland Strom, chairman and CEO of the Farm Credit Administration, says that up to November 2011, 52 land sales in Iowa exceeded $10,000/acre. Around 50% of all sales exceeded $7,500/acre.

How can people afford to pay these unheard-of prices for farmland?

Kim Greenland, market president for Great Western Bank in Mount Ayr, Iowa, points to padded wallets. "Financially, American agriculture has never been stronger."

In 2011, farmers are projected to net $100.9 billion in farm income, according to USDA’s Economic Research Service. That’s up almost 30% from 2010. After adjusting for inflation, ERS reports that farmers’ 2011 net cash income is at the highest value recorded since 1974.

David Oppedahl, economist for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, agrees with Greenland. He says a boost in farmer income, low interest rates and improving credit conditions are all supporting these high farmland values.

In addition, the amount of land available for purchase was limited for most of the year, says Mike Walsten, editor of the LandOwner newsletter. "We had record profits in the hands of farmers who wanted to expand and who were bidding for tight supplies of land in a low-interest rate environment."

Farmland Values Go Up, Up, Up

According to the recent Iowa State University annual survey, the average value of Iowa farmland is now at $6,708, an increase of around 32% from 2010.

But, don’t chalk it up to just an Iowa thing.

The third quarter farmland data released from the Federal Reserve Banks of Chicago and Kansas City show some of the strongest good farmland value gains since the late 1970s.

Here’s an overview of the farmland value gains by state. (Percent change from previous year).

Seventh District

Illinois

+23

Indiana

+29

Iowa

+31

Michigan

+16

Wisconsin

+17

Tenth District

Nonirrigated

Irrigated

Ranchland

Kansas

+20.2

+14.9

12.4

Missouri

+13.4

n/a

+10.6

Nebraska

+38.3

+40.6

+26.2

Oklahoma

+10.6

n/a

+5.2

Mountain States

+12.1

+12.6

+10.4

Factors Affecting Farmland

So, farmers can now financially afford paying more for land than ever before. But, what is raising the value of farmland?

Gloy says that these farmland market fundamentals are strong today, but are volatile and may not continue. "I think there is room for land prices to go higher. I think there are substantial risks associated with higher moves.

Is there a Farmland Bubble?

A "bubble" in real estate or housing is defined as a rapid increase of value that reaches an unsustainable level (think a balloon receiving so much air that it finally pops).

Is farmland at the breaking point or still gaining steam?

Greenland says no.

"Farmland values have escalated dramatically in many areas of the country, but there’s no evidence this is due to credit," he says. "This is driven by a lot of profitability."

He says the demand for credit to finance these new acquisitions has been relatively flat, and the increase in farmland values is due to a thin market and farmer prosperity, not excessive lending.

Farmland Values in 2012

So, will 2012 see be a repeat of 2011’s high farmland sales?

Walsten says he expects to see an increase of around 10% in farmland values for 2012 and a general flattening out in 2013. "It does feel like we are nearing the end of this upward cycle in land values. That does not mean values will crash like in the 1980s, but values could become flat for some time."

He says with input costs rising and current futures prices forecasted lower in 2012 compared to 2011, some of the demand for land will cool.

"However, net farm profits set a record in 2011 and many sharp operators had very good years prior to 2011. They are very liquid and have cash available if that 80 or 160 next door becomes available. That alone will keep land values firm through 2012."

He believes farmland values should remain strong for the next several months at least. Beyond that there is a fair degree of uncertainty with respect to whether land values can maintain their current levels.

Editor’s Note: Here at AgWeb.com, we tried to identify what stories in 2011 will continue be top of mind in 2012. You’ll see one of these stories each week day until Jan. 3. Send any thoughts or comments on the stories to editors@agweb.com.

Comments

Leave a Comment

Rate this
News Article:

Name *

Email *

City *

State *

Comment *

Please enter text you see below:

Anonymous1/1/2012 12:34 PM

Of course its a bubble, but I am not sure these rich farmers even care!!! People paying 50-75x annual cash rent! When asked why overpaying farmers replying, "don't know what else to do with the money", as if that somehow makes it OK. High prices entirely dependent on ultra low interest rates, growing corn ethanol demand, government subsidy levels and current tax breaks as well as perfect yields, every year, forever. Ignorant Ag schools and land brokers egging them on and its shameful. I am seeing a world in the future with much higher interest rates, low commodity prices, lots of competition with corn ethanol (i.e. cellulosic and foreign sugar cane ethanol) higher taxes and fewer subsidies Trust me, when this unwinds it will be ugly. The wise will prepare for that day and will prosper in it. To the ignorant paying these crazy prices, good luck - but by my estimation you are going to get hammered.